Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Founded in 1975, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte dIvoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. Its mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters. The ECOWAS are: the Commission; the Community Parliament; the Community Court of Justice and the Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). Website: www.ecowas.int/